An opening UEFA Champions League loss to Monaco was quickly forgotten by Barcelona as they have gone on to win their next six matches to become one of only two sides - Liverpool being the other - to automatically secure a place in the last 16 before the final round of fixtures.
Their sensational run includes a 4-1 rout of Bayern Munich and a 3-2 win over last season’s runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, explaining why they are odds-on favourites for Wednesday’s visit from Atalanta.
However, Barca are embroiled in a tight La Liga title race and Hansi Flick may be prioritising their domestic duties instead of a match which is essentially a dead-rubber to the five-time UEFA Champions League winners, with Atalanta poised to capitalise if that is the case.
Contents |
Prediction | BetSie Supercomputer % | Odds | Odds % |
Atalanta to win | 22.6% | 24.4% | |
Atalanta to win 3-1 | N/A | 3.8% |
Barcelona have won their last six UEFA Champions League matches and are already assured of a place in the last 16
Atalanta have scored 11 goals while winning all three of their UEFA Champions League away games
Five of Barcelona’s last six UEFA Champions League matches have gone over 3.5 goals
Tip | Current Odds |
Atalanta draw no bet | |
Over 3.5 goals | |
Mateo Retegui anytime goalscorer |
Atalanta draw no bet - 9/4
An 8/11 price may look generous for a side as ruthless as Barcelona, who have scored 25 goals while winning their last six UEFA Champions League games, but it is easy enough to swerve once context is added.
Flick’s side can be brilliant, as shown as recently as Sunday when routing Valencia 7-1 in La Liga, but those types of performances only come when all of their best players are on the pitch.
Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have all enjoyed excellent seasons but it is extremely unlikely that all, or potentially any, of that trio will start on Wednesday, with Barca’s place in the last 16 already secured.
The hosts may rotate heavily as they focus on their La Liga title race, in which they are seven points behind the leaders, their bitter rivals Real Madrid. Barca’s fans would like to finish top of the league phase in Europe but they would need Liverpool to slip up to do so anyway, which is unlikely to happen.
That said, even if Barcelona do not take this game lightly, Atalanta would not be without a chance. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are no mugs, as shown by their Europa League triumph last term, and they will be going full tilt even if their hosts aren’t.
Only a win would secure a top-eight finish for the Bergamo outfit and they look set to secure that.
Atalanta have won their three previous League Phase away games, scoring 11 goals in the process, and have more than enough talent to secure a crucial three points.
Over 3.5 goals - 10/11
Goals are seemingly always on the agenda when Barcelona play and Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash could see that trend continue.
The Spanish giants’ games in Europe this season have produced a mammoth 37 goals - the most in the competition at an average of 5.2 per game - and even a second-string Barca would have enough to help bring up a high scoring tally, as shown by their nine goals in their two Copa del Rey matches this term.
Atalanta are no strangers to thrilling ties either, with 17 goals being scored across their last three European outings and their last away game in the UEFA Champions League seeing Gasperini’s men thrash Young Boys 6-1 in Switzerland.
Five of Barcelona’s last six UEFA Champions League matches, as well as each of Atalanta’s last three, have gone over 3.5 goals and it would be no surprise to see these two attacking sides play out a thriller at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Mateo Retegui anytime goalscorer - 7/4
With goals on the agenda in Barcelona, it could pay to back one of the most in-form attackers in Europe to bag one at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Mateo Retegui has been on fire for Atalanta since joining from Genoa in the summer, top-scoring in the Serie A with 16 goals in 20 games and also netting three times in seven UEFA Champions League outings.
The Italian forward has scored in each of his last four matches, netting both goals in Atalanta’s 2-1 win over Como on Saturday, and can punish a Barcelona side who have gone five games without a clean sheet and shipped four against Benfica in their last UEFA Champions League fixture.
Barcelona | 56.3% |
Draw | 21.1% |
Atalanta | 22.6% |
The odds suggest that Barcelona have a 57.9% chance of beating Atalanta on Wednesday night, while the BetSie Supercomputer believes there is a 56.3% chance of this happening.
The BetSie Supercomputer believes Atalanta have a 22.6% of claiming a crucial victory in their quest for a top-eight finish.
A 3-1 victory for Atalanta has a 3.8% chance of happening according to the odds.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Team: Pena; Fort, Garcia, Christensen, Martin; Casado, Gavi; Torre, Lopez, Fati; Torres.
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Team: Carnesecchi; Toloi, Hien, Kolasinac; Palestra, Ederson, De Roon, Zappacosta; Lookman, De Ketelaere; Retegui.
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